1939 BMW 328 Roadster / 85446 Chassis Information

Sold for $621,000 at 2018 Bonhams : Quail Lodge.The BMW 328 was available from late summer of 1936 and 1939, with 464 examples built. It is believed that fewer than 200 exist today.

The BMW had a tubular chassis, transverse-leaf independent front suspension, and live rear axle of the 319. The cylinder block and hydraulic brakes were from the 326. The stylistic elements were courtesy of the 391/1 Sport and 329. BMW's Chief Engineer Fritz Fiedler utilized both lightness and stiffness making the 328 a modern sports car. The six-cylinder engine featured a new cylinder head, designed by Rudolf Schleicher, which incorporated hemispherical combustion chambers and inclined valves without recourse to overhead, or twin camshafts. The Type 326, 1971cc engine's single, block-mounted camshaft and pushrod valve actuation were retained. Two rocker shafts were employed, one situated above each bank of valves. The 328 engine offering 80 horsepower which was a tremendous accomplishment for a normally aspirated 2.0-liter unit at that time.

This particular example is believed to have been built in 1939, in the final production year for the model. It made its way to the United States after World War II and then owned by California-based collectors. By the 1980s, the car was in the care of Sherman Oaks, California resident Mr. Gary A. Engel, before being purchased in 1988 by its current owner.

The car has an older and aged restoration. Both the chassis and engine are stamped with the same number 85446, which would indicate that they are indeed the matching units, although the stamping on the engine block looks as it could have been altered.

During the past three decades, the car has seen little use. The engine is a 1971cc overhead valve inline 6-cylinder unit fitted with three Solex Downdraft carburetors and offers 80 horsepower. There is a four-speed manual transmission and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes.